The planned collaboration between the two companies is an effort to optimize the performance of the Solaris OS, the Java platform and developer tools for AMD Opteron processor-based systems. The Solaris OS on the 64-bit AMD Opteron processor platform is expected to be available in the first half of 2004 through Sun's early-access Software Express for Solaris program. Some developers will gain access before the end of this year. Sun and AMD also intend to work jointly with the Linux community to define and promote a 64-bit UNIX/Linux Application Binary Interface (ABI) to enable interoperability. UNIX or Linux applications could run natively on any operating systems supporting this ABI, according to McNealy.

While announcing the partnership with AMD, McNealy called AMD CEO Hector Ruiz to the stage. "These systems are sound, and will make a difference in the high-end computing space," said Ruiz. This move from Sun differs greatly from its recent focus on embracing low-cost x86-based computing platforms.

In his keynote, McNealy said that he has been inundated with e-mails from people giving him advice about how to position the company. "One guy wrote to me that we should get rid of Java," McNealy said. "Right. Ford, why don't you get rid of cars?" he joked.

McNealy said Sun's strategy for using Java cards as authentication mechanisms for thin-client network computers was going well. He also said that thousands of Department of Defense officials use them to authenticate and that Belgium is building a national ID system around Java cards. McNealy then showed a strategy called SunRay, which is based on Java card authentication.

Pointing to a system he declared contained "nothingno CPU, no OS, nothing", McNealy demonstrated how a Java card could be used to authenticate to a remote server and pull up a computing session from that remote server. He moved to another networked computer and pulled up the same session. He said that a roaming system state on thin-client systems could save companies a lot of money, and he continued to beat Sun's familiar "reduce cost and complexity" drum throughout the keynote.

Continuing on this same theme, he said that the fact that CPU utilization is only at about 15 percent in data centers is ridiculous. He went on to say that Sun is focused on getting more applications consolidated on single servers in data centers. Despite the many moves that McNealy described, which differ from the direction of the Wintel platform, he did confirm that Sun's x86 product line is its fastest growing computing product line.

Sebastian Rupley is Editorial Director for PCMagCast, PC Magazine's channel for live Web seminars and online events on tech topics for consumers and small businesses. Previously, he was West Coast Editor of PC Magazine for over a decade, where he oversaw news and feature stories for the publication, and represented the brand on panels and at conferences on the West Coast. He also served as Features Editor of PC/Computing magazine, managing and promoting many noted technology journalists.
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